--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For these reasons they should not…" description: "\"“For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange peace for war. If wise men remain quiet, while they are not injured, brave men abandon peace fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg" --- # For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange… ![“For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange peace for war. If wise men remain quiet, while they are not injured, brave men abandon peace for war when they are injured, returning to an understanding on a favourable opportunity: in fact, they are neither intoxicated by their success in…” quote by Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg) > ““For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange peace for war. If wise men remain quiet, while they are not injured, brave men abandon peace for war when they are injured, returning to an understanding on a favourable opportunity: in fact, they are neither intoxicated by their success in war, nor disposed to take an injury for the sake of the delightful tranquility of peace. Indeed, to falter for the sake of such delights is, if you remain inactive, the quickest way of losing the sweets of repose to which you cling; while to conceive extravagant pretensions from success in war is to forget how hollow is the confidence by which you are elated.”” [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War is seen as a tempting alternative when peace feels unsafe; complacency can lead to conflict, while overconfidence after victory blinds judgment. **In simple terms:** Peace can be abandoned when people feel unsafe; success can make them reckless. Key Takeaway Guard peace, question confidence after victories. Themes war peace complacency confidence Mood cautious reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - government policy - military leadership - public discourse - conflict resolution Key Concepts political theory human nature strategic decisionmaking Questions to Reflect On - What drives societies to choose war over peace? - How can leaders balance confidence and humility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on war can ignore diplomatic solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-men/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Remain Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain-quiet/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) ## Related quotes > [Israel will not discuss a peace involving the concession of any piece of territory. The neighboring states do not deserve an inch of Israel's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/israel-will-not-discuss-a-peace-involving-the-concession-of-any-piece/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) > [If we are to reach a situation of true peace, real peace, peace for generations, we will have to make painful concessions. Not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/if-we-are-to-reach-a-situation-of-true-peace-real-peace-peace-for/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [Wisdom is the only thing which can relieve us from the sway of the passions and the fear of danger, and which can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wisdom-is-the-only-thing-which-can-relieve-us-from-the-sway-of-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [We have a largely materialistic lifestyle characterized by a materialistic culture. However, this only provides us with temporary, sensory satisfaction, whereas long-term satisfaction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-have-a-largely-materialistic-lifestyle-characterized-by-a/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The great secret in salam is it brings love, tranquility and peace to the person receiving the greeting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habib-kadhim-al-saqqaf/the-great-secret-in-salam-is-it-brings-love-tranquility-and-peace-to/) Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf > [“As you will see, we do not believe that artists have an obligation to strike up attitudes to the war. Indeed, they are wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-you-will-see-we-do-not-believe-that-artists-have-an-obligation-to/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [It is wise statesmanship which suggests that in time of peace we must prepare for war, and it is no less a wise benevolence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/it-is-wise-statesmanship-which-suggests-that-in-time-of-peace-we-must/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [“The news did not trouble her particularly; all news was bad, like wage demands, strikes, or war, and the wise person paid no attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shute/the-news-did-not-trouble-her-particularly-all-news-was-bad-like-wage/) Neil Shute > [Rushing to war is not a wise course of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/rushing-to-war-is-not-a-wise-course-of-action/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The fewer blows, the better. Brave men fight if they must; wise men never fight if they can help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-fewer-blows-the-better-brave-men-fight-if-they-must-wise-men/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [I could have wished that the reputations of many brave men were not to be imperilled in the mouth of a single individual, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/i-could-have-wished-that-the-reputations-of-many-brave-men-were-not/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“Reese, honey, victims are victims when they remain quiet. They gain power when they speak out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-kathryn-rusch/reese-honey-victims-are-victims-when-they-remain-quiet-they-gain/) [Kristine Kathryn Rusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-kathryn-rusch/) > [“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/perhaps-the-greatest-charity-comes-when-we-are-kind-to-each-other/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Bible verses that teach me how important my words are. My words can cause me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-langohr/dear-heavenly-father-i-thank-you-for-the-bible-verses-that-teach-me/) [Glenn Langohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-langohr/) > [Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/perhaps-the-greatest-charity-comes-when-we-are-kind-to-each-other-2/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) ## More by Thucydides > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-the-habit-of-mankind-to-entrust-to-careless-hope-what-they-long/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/contempt-for-an-assailant-is-best-shown-by-bravery-in-action/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The secret of happiness is freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-secret-of-happiness-is-freedom/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [And it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/and-it-is-certain-that-those-who-do-not-yield-to-their-equals-who/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-strong-do-what-they-have-to-do-and-the-weak-accept-what-they-have/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-useless-to-attack-men-who-could-not-be-controlled-even-if/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse… Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-an-evil-thing-but-to-submit-to-the-dictation-of-other-states/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/men-do-not-rest-content-with-parrying-the-attacks-of-a-superior-but/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/as-for-democracy-the-men-of-sense-among-us-knew-what-it-was-and-i/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-a-matter-not-so-much-of-arms-as-of-money/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/amassing-of-wealth-is-an-opportunity-for-good-deeds-not-hubris/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [People get into the habit of entrusting the things they desire to wishful thinking, and subjecting things they don't desire to exhaustive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/people-get-into-the-habit-of-entrusting-the-things-they-desire-to/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/hope-is-an-expensive-commodity-it-makes-better-sense-to-be-prepared/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) [Explore all 160 Thucydides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## More Brave men quotes > [New Mexico is full of brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-udall/new-mexico-is-full-of-brave-men-and-women-who-have-dedicated-their/) [Tom Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-udall/) > [Even brave men, and D'Arnot was a brave man, are sometimes frightened by solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/even-brave-men-and-d-arnot-was-a-brave-man-are-sometimes-frightened/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [May God bless all of our brave men and women in uniform for everything they do to uphold and defend our Constitution and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/may-god-bless-all-of-our-brave-men-and-women-in-uniform-for/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [Only the brave men and women can bring peace to the world, not by practicing war but by practicing nonviolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/only-the-brave-men-and-women-can-bring-peace-to-the-world-not-by/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [The word military now has a new meaning for me. I just wanted to tell everyone who serves for our country thank you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/the-word-military-now-has-a-new-meaning-for-me-i-just-wanted-to-tell/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/peace-has-its-victories-but-it-takes-brave-men-and-women-to-win-them/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [ Small business is the gateway to opportunity for those who want a piece of the American dream. \[...\] Well, wouldn't it be nice to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/small-business-is-the-gateway-to-opportunity-for-those-who-want-a/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The brave men die in war. It takes great luck or judgment not to be killed. Once, at least, the head has to bow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraudoux/the-brave-men-die-in-war-it-takes-great-luck-or-judgment-not-to-be/) [Jean Giraudoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraudoux/) > [As the dangers our nation faces become ever more intense and ever more complex, whether from aggressive states such as Russia, from terrorism or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/as-the-dangers-our-nation-faces-become-ever-more-intense-and-ever/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [Television glorifies war, ... And the reality is we have some remarkably brave men and women who work through such challenging circumstances to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-price/television-glorifies-war-and-the-reality-is-we-have-some-remarkably/) Dave Price > [Here, in the dread tribunal of last resort, valor contended against valor. Here brave men struggled and died for the right as God gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/here-in-the-dread-tribunal-of-last-resort-valor-contended-against/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/after-a-decade-of-grinding-war-our-brave-men-and-women-in-uniform-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am ready to act, if I can find brave men to help me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/i-am-ready-to-act-if-i-can-find-brave-men-to-help-me/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [The fewer blows, the better. Brave men fight if they must; wise men never fight if they can help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-fewer-blows-the-better-brave-men-fight-if-they-must-wise-men/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) [Browse all 189 Brave men quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-men/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange peace for war. If wise men remain quiet, while they are not injured, brave men abandon peace for war when they are injured, returning to an understanding on a favourable opportunity: in fact, they are neither intoxicated by their success in war, nor disposed to take an injury for the sake of the delightful tranquility of peace. Indeed, to falter for the sake of such delights is, if you remain inactive, the quickest way of losing the sweets of repose to which you cling; while to conceive extravagant pretensions from success in war is to forget how hollow is the confidence by which you are elated.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thucydides" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesitate-to-exchange-peace-for-war/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brave men" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesitate-to-exchange-peace-for-war/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/thucydides-2578_brave-men_for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesita_639098.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange peace for war. If wise men remain quiet, while they…” — Thucydides", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thucydides", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“For these reasons they should not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesitate-to-exchange-peace-for-war/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/for-these-reasons-they-should-not-hesitate-to-exchange-peace-for-war/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```